Om Shanti Om becomes Japanese broadway production; girl takes on SRK’s role

Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om (2007), which starred Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, is now being adapted into a Japanese broadway production by a Japanese musical theatre group. What is further interesting is that it is an all-female group. This means that the role of Shah Rukh Khan will be played by a woman. 

The group is called Takarazuka Revue. Its history goes as back as 1913, when it was found by industrialist and politician Ichizo Kobayashi. He was also known for being the President of Hankyu Railway, a private railway operator in Japan. 

The title of the Japanese broadway production version of the film is Oomu Shanti Ommu – Koisuru Rinne and it will be directed by Koyanagi Naoko. Shah Rukh and Deepika Padukone's characters are played by Kurenai Yuzuro and Kisaki Airi. The role of the villain Mukesh Mehra aka Mike (Arjun Rampal) would be essayed by Rei Makoto. 

The production was first played from 13 to 15 January this year. The makers of the show have invited Farah to attend the show on 22 July. The director, of course, is overjoyed to see her movie receiving such acclaim.

Speaking to a publication, she said, “They invited me to come for the opening night and speak to the audience on 22 July. They came to India and jammed with me. They wanted to know where the costumes were made, so I took them to meet the designers. They bought a lot of fabric. It will be nice to see how they adapt the film into a musical play.”

She also mentioned how the film has broken cultural barriers. “OSO has transcended cultural barriers and has become international today. I never realised that the Japanese would love it so much,” she said. 

Not many would know that Om Shanti Om had released in Japan in 2012 and, believe it or not, is still running there in a few theatres.